Magic Plays

Other than Midsummer, which of Shakespeare’s plays have some element of the magical in them? The Tempest, of course. As You Like It has the goddess Hymen showing up at the end, correct? And then there’s Macbeth‘s witches. Hamlet and Julius Caesar‘s ghosts. The more I think about it, the more there are!
What about The Winter’s Tale? I bring it up because recently I mentioned something about “Hermione pretending to be a statue” and somebody wrote back “I’m glad you’re with me on the whole pretending thing, you don’t want to know how many arguments I’ve had.”
Really? Were we ever expected to believe that this is a statue come back to life? I never thought of it as anything other than a trick of Paulina’s.

Who Could You Delete?

Sir Laurence Olivier famously left Rosencrantz and Guildenstern out of his Hamlet. So, play director for a minute. Who else appears to be a major character that you think you could get away with cutting? You are allowed to give that character’s lines to other characters, as necessary, but you can’t invent new characters to compensate. No merging to create a new and unique character (so no blending of Tybalt/Paris/Prince into a single entity ala Sealed With A Kiss).

A Shakespeare TV Series?

That certainly caught my attention, as I’m sure it did yours. I think, though, that the project is really better described as a series of made-for-tv movies?

Patrick Stewart, David Suchet and David Morrissey are among the stars confirmed for a new TV production of Richard II.

The season, which will take a fresh look at the bard’s life and works, will also include adaptations of his history plays Henry IV Parts I and II and Henry V, set in the medieval period and filmed on locations around the UK and mainland Europe. St David’s Cathedral and Pembroke Castle, in West Wales were used to film many of the scenes.

The screening of the films is linked to the 2012 Cultural Olympiad, which is billed as the largest cultural celebration in the history of the modern Olympics and Paralympics.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/showbiz-and-lifestyle/showbiz/2011/05/29/shakespeare-tv-series-filmed-in-wales-91466-28786092/
So, 4 movies. I’m unsure how that translates into a series, but we shall see.

Characters of Action?

Here’s a question. Who among Shakespeare’s characters do you think *says* the least, but is still most crucial to the play? Hamlet, as we know, never shuts up. I’m looking for his opposite. Somebody who manages to say very little but still accomplish great things.
The Prince from Romeo and Juliet would be an example, although only technically — he shows up to say “Look if there’s any more violence in the streets somebody’s going to be executed,” and then later, when there’s violence on the streets, he shows up to banish Romeo. Both important plot points. Technically he wraps the play up but I don’t count that so much among the “action” bits.
I say “technically” because he’s really a minor character who only shows up just to make these points. It’s not like he’s got much stage time.
Compare Cordelia, who disappears after her big opening scene for awhile, and then comes back strong at the end. But I don’t know how her line count would compare with some others.
Ophelia certainly doesn’t get to say much – but can we really count her in this list? Is she ever anything more than someone else’s pawn?
I’m not sure if I’m getting across my premise. Trying to drum up some conversation, it’s been quite here recently.

Iago's Jealousy

This is going to sound like a homework question, but you all know that it’s been a long time since I was in high school :).
Othello is typically described as a story of jealousy. When there’s even the slightest hint that his wife has been unfaithful, noble Othello is reduced to a snarling, violent animal who sees her death as the only possible outcome.

But what about Iago’s jealousy of Cassio? Doesn’t the whole play revolve around something that Cassio has, that Iago wants? It’s not just the promotion, is it? Cassio has Othello’s attention. When Othello needs something, he turns to Cassio. Iago wants to be in that position. I would say that Cassio has Othello’s love, but I’m not sure how accurate that is — Othello catches Cassio brawling at the bar and demotes him just as quickly. He doesn’t seem to lose too much sleep over it.
How are the two different? How are they the same? Discuss.